Anime series often feature main characters (MCs) who start off weak but eventually become very powerful.
At the beginning of the story, these characters usually struggle to keep up with their peers.
However, through hard work or unexpected events, they develop into strong protagonists who can overcome any challenge.
These characters are relatable and have some of the best growth stories in anime. No matter the genre—be it fantasy, isekai, sports, or slice of life—these protagonists exceed what others expect from them.
Here is a list of some of the top anime where the MC begins weak but later becomes overpowered.
Amazing Animes Where A Weak MC Becomes A Powerful OP
Izuku Midoriya in My Hero Academia
Born without Quirks, Deku was one of the rare people in the world without special abilities. Despite this, he dreamed of becoming a hero and looked up to All Might, the top hero at the time.
One day, Deku had a lucky meeting with All Might, who decided to pass on his One for All quirk to him. However, using this new power proved to be difficult.
Even when he accessed only 5% to 10% of the quirk, Deku ended up injuring himself each time he tried to use it.
Not only did Deku need to practice controlling his powers, but he also had to train his body to handle them better. He put in countless hours of effort to become the greatest hero he could be.
From being a powerless teenager, he transformed into an overpowered anime main character.
Simon in Gurren Lagan
At the beginning of Gurren Lagann, Simon is a very shy and timid boy. He seems ordinary, but as he embarks on adventures with Kamina, he gradually gains confidence in himself.
Despite his shyness, Simon has always shown a natural talent for fighting. His character undergoes a dramatic change after Kamina’s death and when he meets Nia.
Simon gradually becomes more confident, and with support from his crew, he is able to battle the Spiral King. From that moment on, he continues to grow stronger.
He learns to harness spiral energy, and by the time he faces the ultimate intergalactic enemy, Simon has transformed from a timid boy into a young man filled with determination and confidence.
Sung Jin Woo in Solo Leveling
Sung Jin-Woo’s journey to becoming an overpowered main character comes from a mix of hard work and luck.
At the start, he is introduced as an E-Rank hunter. Unfortunately, he is at the very bottom of the rank and is often called the “Weakest Hunter in History.”
His luck takes a turn when he completes the “Statue of God” puzzle, only to be killed in the process.
Though his magic level stays the same, Jin-Woo gains a new power: a leveling system that allows him to grow stronger.
The leveling system worked like a video game, boosting his basic stats and skills whenever he completed quests and missions.
While it might seem like an easy way to gain power, Jin-Woo had to put in a lot of effort to keep advancing. The missions became more challenging over time.
Despite this, his greatest strength is his determination. This once-weak anime main character beats the odds and becomes overpowered.
Asta in Black Clover
Asta embodies hard work and determination. In a world where magic is everything, the main character of Black Clover has none.
When all 15-year-old boys are given their first Grimoires, Asta receives a five-leaf Grimoire that contains an Anti-Magic devil.
Asta and his rival, Yuno, were both raised at a church after being abandoned. His childhood was difficult, and his time in the province brought even more criticism.
Asta’s difficulty controlling Anti-Magic and absence of magic often placed him at the Black Bulls’ bottom.
However, even after facing defeats, he always found a way to bounce back and maintain his positive outlook.
To gain better control over his abilities, Asta trained harder than anyone else. His intense training paid off, and he eventually became a dependable member of his team.
His rivalry with Yuno pushed him to improve every day. As the story progressed, Asta grew stronger, and he quickly became a powerful Knight.
Hajime Nagumo in Arifureta
Nagumo began as the hero’s party weakest member. He often faced bullying and isolation from the others due to his “Synergist” job skill, which was seen as the least valuable in the Isekai world. On top of that, he had the lowest stats.
While exploring the Orcus Labyrinth, the entire area collapsed, leading everyone to believe Nagumo was dead.
However, the seemingly weak anime main character survived and eventually became incredibly powerful during his dungeon days.
Nagumo’s will to survive drove his development as a main character. He began consuming other monsters in the dungeon.
This, along with his “Synergist” job, allowed him to gain the powers and abilities of the creatures he defeated.
As he grew stronger, the dungeon became increasingly difficult to navigate. He frequently faced challenges that tested his limits, putting his life at risk on several occasions.
However, he did not give up. In the end, Nagumo became even stronger.
